Acute hepatitis and pancytopenia related to non-typhoidal salmonella infection in a human immunodeficiency virus-infected patient

Abstract

Non-typhoidal salmonella (NTS) are food-borne pathogens resulting in self-limiting acute gastroenteritis, but also more severe, invasive and sometimes recurrent bacteremia with atypical organ involvement in immunocompromised adults, particularly with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Here we present a case of acute hepatitis and pancytopenia related to a non-typhoidal agent, Salmonella enterica subspecies enterica serovar Enteritidis, in an HIV-infected patient, the first case in the literature. As presented in our case, in management of NTS infection in immunocompromised patients, the first target is the control of bacteremia and then administration of antiretroviral therapy to improve patients' immunity. Therefore, underlying immunosuppression should be excluded in patients presenting with NTS bacteremia, especially in the absence of gastroenteritis. On the other hand, atypical organ involvement and abnormal laboratory findings in HIV infection should prompt investigations for opportunistic pathogens.